Gear-collapse A300F veered off runway after severe vibration

French investigators studying a landing accident involving an Air ContractorsAirbus A300B4 freighter at Bratislava have disclosed that the pilots experienced severe vibration from the twinjet moments after touchdown.

The aircraft, arriving as flight QY6321 from Leipzig, landed at 05:25 local time on 16 November, after an instrument landing system approach to runway 22.

French investigation authority BEA says the A300 touched down with its main gear some 700m (2,300ft) from the threshold.

But after 360m of the landing run the crew "felt some violent vibrations", it states, which increased as the aircraft decelerated.

The BEA adds that the aircraft veered left and the crew, braking heavily, tried "in vain" to use the nose-gear steering to regain control.

Travelling at less than 45kt, the A300 rolled off the left side of the runway some 800m after nose-wheel touchdown. The nose-gear hit a concrete inspection pit and collapsed.

Three crew members were on board the jet, which was operating on behalf of DHL, but none of them was injured.